Description: 1949 JRM 2 Unc. (JRM-2 Uncatalogued Variation) 'Starburst Portrait' Round Menko Card smaller size at 1-7/8" Starburst 'Close-Up Portrait' Variation Most of the smaller 1-7/8" 'Starburst' JRM 2 cards show a larger image, often a waist-up pose. This far scarcer Uncatalogued Close-Up Portrait cropped image variation is found on all 10 card in set. Tadashi Henry Wakabayashi 若林 忠志 pitcher born and raised in Wahiawa on Oahu, Hawaii Japanese Baseball Hall of Famer These Uncatalogued Round Baseball Menko Cards were made in 1949. This set/group of Starburst design cards are all Catalogued under JRM 2 in the Japanese Baseball Card Catalog. There are many variations and sizes within the JRM 2 group. This variation is one of 3 different that are 1-7/8" in size, and not mentioned in Catalog. The image is heavily cropped to show only the head and face close-up, and they have a yellow overall look to them. These Close-Up Portrait variation cards are fairly Rare overall. They would probably be ranked as R4, meaning est. under 10 of ea. card known. Tadashi Henry 'Bozo' Wakabayashi 若林 忠志is in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame Bozo was a player from 1936-1953, 1944 & 1947 MVP He was also a manager from 1942-1953 Wakabayashi's parents had immigrated to Hawaii from Hiroshima, Japan, and Wakabayashi was born in Hawaii, giving him dual citizenship between the United States and Japan. Wakabayashi attended Oahu's William McKinley High School, and his powerful fastball made him the ace pitcher of the school's baseball team. In 1928, he was chosen to participate in an exhibition baseball tournament held in Japan, and he traveled from Hawaii to Japan for the first time that year. Professional baseball did not exist in Japan at that time, and Wakabayashi's amateur team played against university teams in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League. Wakabayashi's pitching abilities did not go unnoticed, and Hosel University was particularly active in recruiting him. Wakabayashi himself was not opposed to the idea of remaining in Japan, and it seemed only a matter of time before he was admitted into Hosei University, and then onto Pro Baseball. He renounced his Japanese citizenship in 1928, but revived it when he moved to Japan. When the Osaka Tigers played their first season in 1936, jersey numbers were given out in alphabetical order. Wakabayashi was assigned number 4, but he refused to wear the number because it is considered unlucky in Japan. He was given the first available number instead, which was 18. His subsequent success in the professional leagues made it a custom for a Japanese team's ace pitcher to be given the number 18. 'Close-Up Portrait' Variation light wear collector grade. size is 1-7/8" wide *I have other players from this uncatalogued 'closeup' series I will list separately. *image showing the 3 variations in 1-7/8" cards is for reference only. Great for the PreWar 'type card collector', or Japanese Card collector.... guaranteed authentic and unaltered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~My BLOCKED BIDDER List...meobsol-3
Price: 33 USD
Location: Keaau, Hawaii
End Time: 2024-02-28T08:50:47.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Graded: No
Type: Sports Trading Card
Sport: Baseball
Autographed: No
Set: 1949 JRM 2 'Small Close-Up' variation
Card Name: 1949 JRM 2 'smaller close up' cropped image
Player/Athlete: Tadashi Henry 'Bozo' Wakabayashi
Country/Region of Manufacture: Japan
Season: 1949